http://www.newshounds.us/2005/07/13/hannity_and_the_gop_try_but_fail_to_spin_plame_outing_as_no_big_deal.phpBill Press summarized the situation nicely. He said that Karl Rove previously denied he had anything to do with Valerie Plame "yet now we know he deliberately leaked her identity. Maybe he didn't name her name but he said it was Joe Wilson's wife and she worked at the agency. The agency only means one place in this town. It means the CIA. Secondly, we know that Karl Rove compromised our nation's national security by blowing the cover of an undercover CIA agent." Taking the opportunity to compare this to Watergate, he said, "This is not just a burglary operation. This is compromising our national security... I think it is an act of treason and Karl Rove should not only be fired, he should marched off to prison where every traitor belongs."
Then it was Hannity's turn. He began by trying to deflect attention away from the meat of Press' allegations. Sarcastically, he said, "I love that now the Clinton defenders and the Berger defenders are out there calling Karl Rove treasonous and finding him guilty without a trial but that doesn't surprise me." Press interrupted him to ask "...(unintelligible as he and Hannity were speaking at the same time) to compromise our nation's security, why isn't that a serious matter and why are you defending this guy?"
HANNITY: "Alright, let me bring some evidence to the audience here that hasn't come out so far. Finally, Byron York did a piece tonight on National Review Online. Bill, before you get even more hysterical than you are (Press interrupted to say he had read it) you need to go back and read it ("I've read it."). What we're discovering - I know you want to condemn him right out of the box, you don't believe in any evidence, but now Karl Rove's lawyer has said, first of all it was Cooper who originally called Karl Rove (Press: So what?). Hang on, learn something, Bill. It was Cooper who wanted to talk about welfare reform and then later turned it to the other issue here. And more evidence that Karl Rove wasn't on a witch hunt to get a story out about Valerie Plame. Karl spoke to him on double secret background, even according to his information and thirdly, G Gordon Liddy, Karl Rove released these guys to tell their story back in late December 2003 and early 2004... This is not a big surprise, G Gordon.
Press tried to respond but Hannity told him the question was for Liddy. Press said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, I thought that was addressed to me... I hope you'll let me answer as well. You started out talking to me."